Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Benefits of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Natural gas offers many advantages over conventional petroleum products. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is the smart and affordable choice for fleet vehicles, transit buses, school buses, waste disposal trucks, delivery vehicles, and more.
With CNG, you'll save money on fuel, reduce emission levels, and extend the life of your vehicle.
Great for Fueling Fleets
Compressed natural gas (CNG) can fuel everything from vans and shuttles to transit buses, school buses and semitrucks. In fact, CNG-powered vans and shuttles are already in use in major cities and airports, saving money on fuel and reducing emission levels. Since CNG is a cleaner fuel than diesel or gasoline, engine wear is also reduced, allowing a vehicle to last longer.
With the same power as gasoline or diesel fuel, CNG can also be used in transit buses, semitrucks, school buses, waste disposal trucks and delivery vehicles. Currently, one of every five new transit buses in America is fueled by natural gas, and a natural gas-powered school bus can displace 1,400 gallons of diesel fuel per year. Currently, there are more than 2,500 CNG buses in school districts across the country.
Commercial vehicles travel a significantly greater number of miles per year than private vehicles, which average 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year.
Get Green for Being Green
Green Benefits for Fleets
The low cost of natural gas, combined with unprecedented public and private investment, has led to significant market growth and more vehicle and fueling options than ever before. Companies such as UPS, Waste Management, AT&T, Frito-Lay, Penske, Ryder, Unilever, Saddle Creek, Anheuser-Busch, FedEx Freight, Fiat-Chrysler Transport and others are converting their fleets to natural gas to take advantage of this opportunity.
Heavy-duty natural gas engine technology available today is more than 90 percent cleaner than the most stringent applicable U.S. EPA standards for oxides of nitrogen. When fueled with renewable natural gas (RNG) made from waste stream sources such as landfill gas, dairy waste, waste water treatment plants and other sources, lifecycle GHG emissions are reduced by more than 80 percent. The combination of new near-zero-emission natural gas engine technology and RNG provides the single best opportunity for the U.S. to achieve immediate and substantial nitrogen oxide (NOx) and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the on-road heavy-duty transportation sectors.
Cleaner Fuel Source
Energy and Environmental Benefits
Whether produced via conventional or renewable methods, the advantages of natural gas as an alternative fuel include its domestic availability, established distribution network, relatively low cost, and emissions benefits.
Renewable natural gas (RNG) and conventional natural gas, must be compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) for use in vehicles. Like any alternative fuel, there are some considerations to take into account when contemplating the use of natural gas.
Energy Security
In 2015, the United States imported approximately 9.4 million barrels of petroleum per day and consumed approximately 19.4 million barrels per day. Because transportation accounts for nearly three-fourths of total U.S. petroleum consumption, using U.S. transportation fuels like natural gas can have a direct impact. This not only supports the U.S. economy but helps diversify the U.S. transportation fleet and reduce the impact of international supply disruptions. All of this adds to our nation's energy security.
More Natural Gas Advantages
10 Benefits of Using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Compressed Natural Gas, commonly referred to as CNG, is a clear, odourless, non-corrosive gas that can be used as a cheaper, cleaner and more efficient alternative to the traditional fuels used in vehicles. The gas is compressed so sufficient fuel can be stored within the vehicle to extend the driving range. There are many benefits to using CNG in your vehicles, these include:
Environmental Benefits
CNG burns cleaner when compared to traditional petrol and diesel. Carbon monoxide emissions are reduced by roughly 80 percent, and 44 percent less hydrocarbons are produced in comparison to gasoline-powered vehicles. Natural Gas still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but they are significantly reduced. Another benefit is that in the case of a leak, CNG does not pose any danger of contamination of ground water since the fuel is non-toxic. CNG cars also run quieter than gasoline and diesel vehicles, which results in less noise pollution.
Cost Effectiveness
CNG is almost third the price of Super.
CNG = $1.00 TT/L
Super = $3.58 TT/L
Premium = $5.75 TT/L
Diesel = $2.30 TT/L
This means that consumer can save on their fuel bill:
82 percent, if they used premium
68 percent, if they used super
42 percent, if they used diesel
CNG Stories of Success
Natural Gas Powered Bus Rapid Transit Service
RFTA is the second-largest public transit system in Colorado behind Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), and it is one of the largest rural public transit systems in the country. In 2013, RFTA accepted delivery of 22 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that went into service after completion of maintenance and refueling facilities earlier that year.
Source
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) and its VelociRFTA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program are unique in many ways. For example, VelociRFTA was the first rural BRT system in the United States and the operational environment of the VelociRFTA BRT is one of the most severe in the country, with extreme winter temperatures and altitudes close to 8,000 feet. RFTA viewed high altitude operation as the most challenging characteristic when it began considering the use of natural gas. RFTA is the second-largest public transit system in Colorado behind Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), and it is one of the largest rural public transit systems in the country. In 2013, RFTA accepted delivery of 22 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that went into service after completion of maintenance and refueling facilities earlier that year. This paper examines the lessons learned from RFTA’s experience of investigating—and ultimately choosing—CNG for their new BRT program and focuses on the unique environment of RFTA’s BRT application; the decision process to include CNG fueling in the project; unforeseen difficulties encountered in the operation of CNG buses; public perception; cost comparison to competing fuels; and considerations for indoor fueling facilities and project funding.
CNG Powers Law Enforcement in Arkansas
As part of a larger commitment to alternative fuels, the City of North Little Rock, Arkansas, added 16 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet, including nine Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles.
Source
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
As part of a larger commitment to alternative fuels, the City of North Little Rock, Arkansas, added 16 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet, including nine Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles. The city converted the patrol vehicles to CNG with help from the Gaseous Fuels Vehicle Rebate Program, run by the Arkansas Clean Cities (ACC) coalition, housed in the Arkansas Energy Office.
The vehicle conversions each cost about $12,000, and North Little Rock received $77,048 in State Energy Program Recovery Act funds to help foot the bill. "We would not have been able to afford conversion costs without the rebates," said Nathan Hamilton, the city's director of special projects. The police have been pleased so far with the Tahoes' responsiveness, and the city is happy because CNG has the potential to save about $2 per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) in fuel costs. However, with petroleum prices so low in 2016, savings are approximately $0.30 per GGE.
"North Little Rock has been a community leader for alternative fuels in general," previous ACC Coordinator Kelly Volin said. And by switching about 5% of its police fleet to CNG, the city has taken another important step in reducing petroleum use.
In August 2011, the municipality opened a CNG fueling station, the first publicly accessible CNG station in the state. As of 2016, the city sells the fuel for $1.55 per GGE. Statewide, there are 12 public and four private CNG stations. "North Little Rock has jump-started the use of alternative fuels in Arkansas," Volin said.
CNG Refuse Fleets
This case study explores the use of heavy-duty refuse trucks fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Source
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
This case study explores the use of heavy-duty refuse trucks fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG shows promise for this applicatio because fleets can save money on fuel while taking advantage of other benefits, such as low criteria pollutant emissions, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and quieter operation. This case study highlights three fleets from very different types of organizations that used CNG refuse trucks successfully: Republic Services, a national waste and recycling services company; Groot Industries, Inc. a smaller residential pick up and disposal company operating regionally in northern Illinois; and the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works (DPW), a municipal agency. These fleets did have the advantage of receiving federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) received funding from the Recovery Act for energy-related projects. Clean Cities, an activity within the EERE Vehicle Technologies Office, received almost $300 million in Recovery Act funding to reduce petroleum consumption and emissions through the deployment of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles across the United States. In total, 25 projects were awarded nationwide, through a competitive solicitation process. Partners in these projects contributed more than $500 million in cost share. Thousands of vehicles using a variety of fuels and technologies and hundreds of alternative fuel stations have been deployed. This case study synthesizes information from Republic, Groot, and the City of Milwaukee and broadly discusses their experiences, lessons learned, and considerations for deployment in other fleets. This case study was sponsored by the Clean Cities program and developed by Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) and Energetics, Incorporated. The fleets discussed in this case study provided critical assistance in information collection, as did the local Clean Cities coordinators who worked closely with these fleets to implement these projects. Republic Services provides waste and recycling services for commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential customers in 40 states and Puerto Rico. The company has established a goal to have 3,100 trucks nationwide running on natural gas or other alternative fuels by the end of 2015. For the past 30 years, Republic Services has served the greater Boise, Idaho, area with solid waste and recycling services for more than 68,000 residential and commercial customers. Republic has been a Clean Cities coalition stakeholder since 2006.
Transportation Fleet
Find out how Virginia Transportation Corporation uses compressed natural gas trailers to move vehicles from railroads, ports, and plants.
For info about this project, contact Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition.
CNG Fuels Buses
Watch how Tulsa, Oklahoma, powers its school buses and refuse trucks with compressed natural gas.
For information about this project, contact Tulsa Clean Cities.